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New Braunfels Herald Zeitung (Newspaper) - January 2, 2001, New Braunfels, Texas
Neal apprehended at Canadian border
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — On the same afternoon of Barbara Casey’s funeral, her son ‘will be arraigned today for allegedly killing her and setting the fire that destroyed her home.
Daniel P. Neal, 32, was arrested Sunday as he tried to cross the US. border into Canada.
He was detained on a pair of fugitive warrants: one for violation probation in Bexar County and one for murder in Comal County
Investigators believe Neat shot and killed Casey, 61, and burned her Cranes Mill home on Dec. 26.
Corrections officer Gary Shepherd said Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies and United States Customs officials arrested Neal on
the probation warrant as he tried to cross the U.S. border into the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The second warrant was issued Sunday in Comal County, according to information released by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office.
Neal will be arraigned on both warrants in a Washington court today — the same day memorial services are conducted for his mother in New Braunfels.
He was held without bail in Whatcom
County Jail in Bellingham, Wash.
Shepherd said what happened next would depend on what happened in court today.
“He’ll be arraigned, and then he’s got to decide whether he wants to sign waivers for extradition or not,” Shepherd said.
Comal County Sheriff Bob Holder said Monday county officials were prepared to go to Washington to bring Neal back.
“We’re working closely with the district See MURDER/5A
NEAL
2001: A Look Ahead
Sunday: Comal County,
school districts make
room for
growing
population
Today : City of New Braunfels adjusts to ever-increasing demands; 1-35 work
Wednesday:
Redistricting at state, county and city levels
Thursday: Jack Wan en Davis murder trial set for May
Friday: Water officials keep close eye on levels
Gruene Hall rings in New Year
CHRIS PACE/Herald-Zeitung
Nancy Harris, of New Braunfels, celebrated New Year’s Eve at the oldest dance hall in Texas Sunday night dancing to a four-hour set of Gary P. Nunn at Gruene Hall.
Vol. 150 No. 44
12 pages in 2 sections January 2, 2001
Tuesday
Serving Comal County since 1852
50 cents
Murder victim’s son arrested
Old business
lingers in 2001 for NB council
NEW Braunfels
Herald-Zeitung
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By Jo Lee Ferguson Staff Writer
Streets and drainage issues likely will take the spotlight in New Braunfels during 2001, but city fathers will have plenty of other tasks to keep them busy as well.
The city council terms of Mayor Pro Tem Juan Luis Martinez and Councilman Larry Alexander expire in May, at which time voters in District I and District 2 will decide who will fill those seats on the council. Martinez represents District I, and Alexander represents District 2.
Council also will address changes in the infrastructure improvement board, Camp Comal property, parks and youth sports facilities.
STREETS AND DRAINAGE
One of the highlights of 2000 was the defeat of all but one of seven propositions in a large bond package. One of the failed propositions was $11 million for streets and drainage projects in New Braunfels.
City officials said they believed the city still needed those projects.
“.. .The big project I would like to see done is have a streets and drainage plan and start working on it, start fixing our streets and doing some of the drainage projects we need done,” Mayor Stoney Williams said. “We’ve asked staff to come back to us with a list of priority streets that need to be done and the drainage projects that need to be done.”
Those projects are “mostly” the ones in the bond package, he said. Among those projects were:
• the extension of County Line Road from Pahmeyer Lane to Farm-to-Market Road 1044;
• reconstruction of Wright Avenue;
• reconstruction of Landa Street between Spring Hill Drive; and
• Walnut Avenue.
“(The defeat of the bond package) delayed getting streets fixed, getting those projects done,” Williams said.
Residents in November approved a special election that combined two of the city’s sales taxes for a total three-eighths of I percent sales. The tax is called the 4B tax in reference to its enabling legislation.
Those tax revenues are now available for any of the legal uses, including streets and
See CITY/5 A
Propane gas leak starts Canyon Lake fire
By Jo Lee Ferguson Staff Writer
CANYON LARE — A propane gas leak ignited a fire Monday afternoon that destroyed a two-sto-ry Canyon Lake home.
Two people were at home at 925 Parkview when the fire started, but they escaped the house with their two dogs, Assistant Comal County Fire Marshal Darren Brinkkoeter said.
“It is a total loss at this point,” Brinkkoeter said.
The location of the home, the lack of fire hydrants and the cold weather caused problems for firefighters as they battled the blaze.
The fire was reported just before 3 p.m. Monday and was under con-
trol shortly before 5 p.m. Brinkkoeter said the blaze began with a “flash fire,” not an explosion.
Thick white smoke billowed from the home as firefighters continued to pour water on the home. The front wall was almost all that remained of the home, and it appeared sagging and ready to collapse.
Brinkkoeter said the owners of the home were aware of the propane leak, and their supplier had been to the house Monday and during the weekend to fix the problem.
Firefighters cut the gas supply off when they arrived.
See FIRE/5A
CHRIS PACE/Herald-Zeitung
This Canyon Lake home was destroyed by a fire ignited by a propane gas leak.
Inside
Abby................................7A
Classifieds .............3-4B
Comics..............................8A
Crossword........................7A
Forum.................................6 A
Local/Metro........................4A
Movies.................................7A
Obituaries...........................3A
Sports............................1-2B
Today....................................2A
www.herald-zeitung.com
Key Code 76
County officials take oaths of office
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
Monday was a day of celebrating new things for Comal County officials.
For some, it was a day of celebrating new children or new spouses who came along in 2000, such as County Court-at-Law Judge Brenda Freeman, now Brenda Chapman.
For others, like Pct. I Commissioner Jack Dawson, who had a close call with heart trouble in September, it was a day for celebrating a new lease on life.
Monday was also a day to mourn recently departed county counsel Nathan Rheinlander, who died unexpectedly in December.
For a few officials elected or re-elected Nov. 7, Monday was a day of raising their right hands. Nearly IO officials, ranging from district court judge to constable, took their oaths of office.
Jack Robison, 207th District Court Judge, administered oaths to 22nd District Judge Charles Ramsay, commissioners Dawson and Cristina Zamora, Sheriff'
Bob Holder and constables Randy Galindo, Lester Leissner,
Jim Hanley and Ben Scroggin.
Gary Steel, 274th District Judge, administered the oath of office to Sherman Krause, the county’s new tax assessor/collector.
In brief remarks and an invocation, Pastor Chuck DeHaven of St. Paul Lutheran Church praised off icials who chose to serve their neighbors.
County Judge Danny Scheel said, “Comal County is a very close-knit family. We’re all here to help each other. Any time anyone has a problem, we’re here to help you and our off ices are open to you.”
CHRIS PACE/Herald-Zeitung
The new Comal County Tax Assessor-Collector Sherman Krause, middle, takes his oath of office with guidance from 274th District Judge Gary Steel, left.
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